INDIA TODAY CONCLAVE SOUTH

9th & 10th JANUARY 2017, ITC GRAND CHOLA, CHENNAI

Videos

I don't always support a dole says, MK Stalin at India Today Conclave South

Addressing the audience at India Today Conclave South, former Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu MK Stalin, said he does not always support doles or freebies and asked the intellectuals if doles are an investment or waste of money.

At a time when 65% population of India is youth, Upasana Kamineni, Vice
President Of Apollo Charity, Dia Bhupal, Designer, Manasi Kirloskar,
Executive Director of Toyota Kirloskar, Serah John, CEO & Co-Founder
of BlueTimbre Music, discussed various issues pertaining to the youth.

During
a session titled 'The Next Generation: Banking on Youth' and chaired by
Sethu Vaidyanathan the speakers discussed if the potential of the youth
is being tapped fully and how young people use social media. According
to Manasi Kirloskar, people are using social media to voice negative
opinion and there is a need to use the platform responsibly.

On the second day of the India Today Conclave South 2017, Telugu actor Vishnu Manchu and Kannada actor-director Rakshit Shetty participated in a session called Awesome Twosome: Talent, Precision, Practice. Among other things, the two actors jokingly accused Bollywood of stealing Deepika Padukone from the South and added that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan too was South's export to Bollywood.

At the India Today Conclave South 2017, Telugu actor Vishnu Manchu and Kannada actor-director Rakhshit Shetty were asked to propose to women. While Vishnu reached the audience and proposed to a lady to rehearse his words, Rakshit went down on his knees with a rose in his hand and aced the proposal!

At the Start-up Zone: Lighting the entrepreneurial spark session, Protea Medical MD, Meena Ganesh, Murugavel Janakiraman, CEO of Matrimony.com and R. Chandrasekhar, president of Nasscom discuss how India is faring on the start-up front.

Talking about where Indian entrepreneurs are lacking, Meena Ganesh points that number of cutting-edge products coming out of India is very limited, thus making it an area to be worked upon.

Pallam Raju and RV Despande were speaking at the session 'Why Invest in South: The Case for Change'. They shared the dais with MC Sampath, minister for industries, Tamil Nadu, and KT Rama Rao, minister for IT, electronics and communication development, Telangana.

On South India attracting MNCs and big companies to set up shop, Deshpande said the region scores over North on several parameters- transparency, a safe environment for investment, law and order situation and skilled human resource.

In a discussion with India Today Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai, the former Governor of West Bengal and grandchild of Mahatma Gandhi, Gopalkrishna Gandhi said that leaders and leadership is in great trouble today.

Adding that Indians are fed up of politics, he said that politicians are now seen as manipulators and leaders as Arvind Kejriwal, Anna Hazare were seen as counters to 'politics', who drew huge crowds, hinting at an audience tired of politics.

Chief Minister of Puducherry V. Narayanasamy during the session "Small State, Big Dreams: Making Change Happen" said "chief ministers have to work in coordination with the government of India, then only the states will progress. When the states progress, there is an overall progress in the country".

On being asked about facing the same problem as Delhi CM, i.e having trouble with the Governor, Narayanasamy said "don't Arvind Kejriwal with me"

The audience at the India Today Conclave South 2017 was in for a pleasant treat when Musicians Chinmayi Sripada and Benny Dayal sang their favourite tracks. While Chinmayi crooned Mayya Mayya, the popular song from Guru, Benny Dayal ended the session with Pappu Can't Dance Saala, the peppy song from Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na.

Chinmayi Sripada, who got her first break from AR Rahman, recalls her first project with the music maestro. The playback singer said that unlike the popular notion, Rahman is not at all intimidating. While musician Benny Dayal talked about working with Rahman and the only compliment that the Mozart of Madras has bestowed on the musician.

During the session "Cooperate and Compete: The Federal Mantra", Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said that "Tamil Nadu is one of the most progressive states of the country" and said that BJP's vision for the state is that the people "must further catch up" and join the national movement Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.

He also commented on jallikattu and said, it is a "traditional art and play of the people of Tamil Nadu".

Union minister for urban development Venkaiah Naidu, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, DMK working president MK Stalin and Kerala CM Vijayan along with the Chairman and Editor-in-chief of India Today group, Aroon Purie light the inaugural lamp on the second day of the India Today Conclave South 2017.

Singers Benny Dayal and Chinmayi Sripada spoke about their musical journey at India Today Conclave South 2017. From their mentor AR Rahman to the cut-throat competition to the disparity between working in Bollywood and down South, the two talented singers spilled the beans on almost everything related to their work.